Did the cymbalta have any effect on your weight?

Did it help u lose or gain more weight?The reviewer seemed to have gained weight with other pain med regiments. Did the cymbalta add to the problem or was there a significant drop or change in weight. Very curious... having problems with the added weight as a side effect of necessary medications. Thanks!

Responses (48)

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IN

Inactive4 Nov 2012

I do not take cymbalta, but I checked the list of possible side effects and a less serious one is loss of appetite.

*GeneralGeneral side effects including insomnia (8% to 13%), fatigue (2% to 15%), *decreased appetite (3% to 11%)*, asthenia (2% to 8%), *anorexia (3% to 5%)*, pyrexia (1% to 3%), gait disturbance, and excessive yawning have been reported. Initial insomnia has been reported frequently. Trismus has also been reported.

**In placebo controlled trials, patients treated with duloxetine for up to 9 weeks had an average weight loss of approximately 0.5 kg compared to an average weight gain of 0.2 kg in placebo treated patients.

I was prescribed cymbalta /Duluxetine for pain with fibromyalgia and gained 4 stone within 1 year and have the photos to prove it.. Could not control my sweet cravings! And could do nothing to override the drug like I normally can, with sheer will power when I decide enuf weight but this is only my experience. My pain did go at 1st with med but came back and now bigger strain with weight on my body. Been 2 weeks cutting down and been without and still not got any weight control back

TA

tazc235 Nov 2012

I have been taking Cymbalta 60 mgs for years now and have not had a problem. The only anti-depressant that ever made me gain weight was Seroquel.

With that being said, everyone will respond differently to medications. I've read where some have gained wieght and had other problems, others like me haven't.

Another thing to consider is other prescription drugs you may be taking. That may have ALOT to do with the side effects. Couple that with the different body make-ups, sizes, weights and other disorders that may be present... this may or may not affect you. Just a thought.

Votes:+1

IN

Inactive5 Nov 2012

Hello tazc23,

Welcome to the site.

I want to help you.

Seroquel (quetiapine) belongs to the drug class of atypical antipsychotics, and it is not an antidepressant. I am telling you this so when you answer you inform the poster with the proper information so they understand and do not get confused, do not take this as an attack because it is not, I am only trying to help you.OK

Take care,

maso.-

TA

tazc235 Nov 2012

Oh no problem, I've been told worst.

Thank you for the correction. I know that Seroquel is an anti-psychotic, that was a mistype, but many times individuals that take anti-depressants also take anti-psychotics. Sometimes doctors even prescribe it is an anti-depressant. Mine did and screwed me up royally.

My point was that people respond to different medications differently.

IN

Inactive5 Nov 2012

Not good what you prsecriber did. As for what you mention, of course we are all unique... different reactions to everything.

I am just here to help, in any way possible.

Take care my new friend,

maso.-

TE

teresaann4023 Jan 2018

ive been taken cymbalta for 2 months now ive loss 45 pounds it also helps me with my depression as well as sleep and mood swings before i wasnt sleeping good at all now im sleeping all night long .

Welcome to the site,I have been on Cymbalta for 7 years & out actually made me lose my appetite & I lost weight.

My advice is to try the Cymbalta as it has helped me alot. And if you find that you start gaining weight you can decide if the benefit of the drug out weighs the weight you might gain.

But one thing that is Very Important is if you start this medication & decide you want to Stop the medication make sure to talk to your Dr. First.Best of luck, Kathy

Votes:+8

SP

Spendor10 Jul 2015

Cymbalta initially causes a loss in weight for many. When, like me, you've been on it seven years the weight creeps back and slightly above where you started off at! All in all, if you do not move or excersise much, even with the loss of appetite and not eating much, you are going to eventually gain some weight with this medicine

LY

lynnemargaret13 Jan 2016

Really get people AWARE of NOT taking Cymbalta it is the worst drug on the market,,, have you tried getting off it yet ??? I have and it is like living in hell day and night.

SP

Spendor9 May 2016

Cymbals works well for depression for most people. It is hard to LOSE weight on it, particularly after many years of taking it. Initially I lost weight but after a year or two it creeps back even with healthy eating and lower caloric intake. If it works for you and are satisfied on it... Watch everything you eat meticulously; and if your older do excersise

VR

vrfamsk16 Oct 2016

I have been on Cymbalta 20 mg for a year and it has helped me tremendously - I have lost weight - about 5 lbs., - which isn't much, but most of it I lost after I was on Cymbalta for about 8 mos., - and I noticed a loss of appetite which has contributed to my weight loss -

OR

Oregon warrior15 Dec 2016

Have been on Cymbalta for six years and gained about twenty lbs. that was in the first year or so. As for getting off of it, it's hell! Shakes, flue like symptoms and pain all over. This is with taking half of my normal dose (weening off). It was so bad that I went back to my normal dose within 24 hours. I couldn't handle the withdrawals. Figure I will have to take it forever or go to a detox center. Was never told that this might happen, or I would have never started taking it.

AN

Antonia19753 Jul 2017

Hi there; how long did it take you to kick in? I have been on it for a month and a week and it's my 5 th day on 120mg. I have no side effects at all but I'm still depressed.. the awful heaviness on my chest. I think I will never be a normal person again. Best Antonia

1S

1sharonc5 Dec 2017

It kicked in for me the 1st day I took it and I thought it was wonderful but my body quickly began to get sore again and as said before, weight up 4stone in 1year. I did the cutting down and weaning off thing too and I totally agree... pure hell

MK

Mkesgrl31 May 2018

I couldn't agree more withdrawals were hell on earth. My insurance had notified my Dr for 3 months to take me off of it because I was in a major crisis and didn't know it was because of cymbalta and prozac together. My dr finally took cymbalta away 1/3/18 a few days later I also took myself off the prozac. several wonderful things followed. My energy returned, I was no longer short of breath walking from my truck to the curb, and all the excess weight about 20lbs just started to fall off. I am now smaller than where I started at diagnosis due to feeling better to be able to be more active. diagnosis officially was 10/2016. Withdrawal symptoms took about a full month to live through. They included worse widespread pain, crappy sleep, stomach upset, irritable bowel, and headaches that wouldn't quit with pain meds. My dr actually kept asking me when I wanted to restart cymbalta because in his opinion it is better for me then the pain meds I take daily.

I simply told him to look me in the eye and said so not ever ask me that question again. I will never ever ask you to give me any other antidepressants. We had been through several and more than once for several months had been on two at the same time. for me they while taking , and withdrawals were far worse then any small amount of relief they gave. Everyone is different or they wouldn't make so many different ones. My experience taught me to listen closer to my body and if a new med makes you feel more worrisome problems it isn't for me. Serotonin syndrome in itself is horrible and can be fatal, even my high blood pressure has reversed. That should be a plus, but when coupled with no energy and short of breath walking to your bathroom that isn't cool. Sure I have pain every day, I have fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis neither one has gone into a remission since diagnosis although thanks to otezla the arthritis is at a semi Plato. I pray you find a solution that works for you.

I stopped Cymbalta last Feb., and I am STILL losing weight!! I have lost nearly 70 pounds now, and they kept telling me that I was eating too much. Different people react differently to medications because of our genetic make up, therefore, what happens to me or someone else who posts might not happen to you.

Best wishes to you!!

Votes:+5

BU

butterflylynn10 Nov 2012

Msfino,Totally True...

Kathy

JA

janiee28 May 2013

What problems did you have getting off Cymbalta? Most everyone says it is horrible.

FI

findingNemo18 Jul 2013

It was horrible getting off of it. Cymbalta binds to your proteins and makes you have withdrawal symptoms and feel like you're going crazy.

SA

SarahLouiseCorke20 Sep 2016

After being prescribed Cymbalta I almost instantly gained 30kgs. My entire system seemed to significantly slow down, I felt bloated, uncomfortable and unhealthy. After 5 years of this, I recently weened myself off - a very long and horrific experience - however I have dropped 33kgs without even trying. I find this a shocking example of how much this drug pollutes the system. I now feel lighter, happier and monumentally healthier. DO NOT take this drug unless completely unavoidable.

OR

Oregon warrior15 Dec 2016

I eat very little and have gained weight since being on this drug. It didn't matter if I was spending five days a week at the gym/pool. I either gained weight or stayed the same. I wish my detox symptoms weren't so awful or I would have stopped taking it years ago.

GO

Godnharley17 Feb 2018

I thought cymbalta had anti depression in it. Currently on wellbutrin 300 mg, along with gabapentin 600mg 3x's a day. They want me to take cymbalta and drop the wellbutrin and gabapentin. Any thoughts?

Cymbalta is a powerful drug some people can take fine and it can ruin your life like it did mine. I lost weight which could be cymbalta or my depression, it is hard to know which. A friend of mine gained a lot of weight like 50 pounds and went off cymbalta and is fighting to get the weight off. It does not come off just because you stop taking cymbalta.

One question I have, I had severe dry mouth on Cymbalta and it has ruined my teeth. I have to have total reconstruction, I developed cavities which I did not have before and my teeth started breaking, some through the root. Any experience with this?.

I have the same problem- the dry mouth. From what my dentist explained, if a medication causes you to have dry mouth, our teeth are protected largely from our "spit." Once that isn't there, our mouth/teeth become exposed to more bacteria.

1K

1Kathy116 Oct 2013

I was wondering about the teeth. I have cavity's in every tooth and some have broken off. I have no dental insurance and can;t afford to pay out of pocket. I need all my teeth pulled and dentures made.

KA

kathleen3b15 Dec 2014

I have been on cymbata 60 mg for over a year and gained 50 llbs within 6 months. I asked my psych to take me off this med because of excessive wight gain. I went from 60 mg to 30 mg and stopped completely about 3 weeks ago. the withdrawal has been horrific, but I take an adivan at night and it stops the excessive sweating and oother effects like constant leg movements. I joined a gym to attempt to get rid of this excess weight as it is affecting my knees. I am termined NEVER to take cymbalta again!!

MO

Moma258 Mar 2015

Yes! The same has happened to me! I had perfect teeth before cymbalta and I have had 2 cavities after starting the treatment.

DO

Domant13 Dec 2016

I did not have any problems with my teeth, however, the weight issue is horrible. I gained 30 lbs and then took myself off the meds. I was taking it for fibromyalgia. The side effects were horrific. I am fighting to get the weight off.

yes cymbalta makes you to gain lot of weight I was on for two year and hey I struggled to take it down but it helped for my depression

MY

myhealth1610 Mar 2016

I was on Cymbalta for 10 years, I never gained weight but it didint help with mt anxietyin the last 3 years and changed to Zoloft, now gained a lot of weight but no longer anxious, i feel depdessed now cause I am overweight and i feel self conscious. I PREFER going back on Cymbalta and being anxious rather than overweight. I cannot handle this weighg gain. On Cymbalta I were sometimes never hungry as well

MA

maph4 May 2013

I have been on it only since end of Jan and I have lost 30 lbs. I eat my normal stuff just keep lossing. At first I have nausa but not very often now. It has helped me with my sleeping, I am on to help manage pain does help some but getting to sleep more than two hrs a nite helps.

MH

mhelcl5 May 2013

Yes Cymbalta caused a major weight gain for my wife even though while taking it, she was on a strict low calorie purely vegetarian diet. She gained over 30 pounds in less than 6 months and there was nothing that would prevent her from this gain. She discontinued Cymbalta because of this side effect, and it took her almost 8 months to get back to her original pre-Cymbalta weight.

CI

cinderellawick11 Jan 2017

I see this post is from a few years back, but I still need to comment. I was put on Cymbalta for part of my pain mgmt regimen. Immediately - within one month I had gained 6 lbs. The doctor said that because I am under a lot of stress with other things, it was most likely my stress hormones. Ok. Next month I gained 5 more lbs and asked to quit the medication, since I wasn't getting nerve pain relief from it anyway. Again, the dr. told me that although I wasnt' getting nerve pain help, I should stay on it for "other reasons" (my mom was stage 4 lung cancer, and I was her caregiver, and also my husband was diagnosed with Huntingtons Disease). I stayed on it... finished my pain mgmt classes and it stayed part of my regimen. Umm, I'm 5'2... and was now at 170 lbs. No matter how hard I would diet, not an ounce would come off. I weaned myself OFF of Cymbalta - over the course of 3 months. I gained weight nonstop - and I weigh 185 lbs.

I have a muscular build, but a history of heart issues. I'm going back on my low carb diet... hitting the treadmill, and praying for relief. I had never really been depressed - even with the personal things going on in my life. Even though they kept telling me it would be good to help me emotionally. Now ... I'm just really stressed. I'm anxious - not depressed. Any tips for trying to get this weight off?? I DO NOT overeat, and I am not sedentary. My mom passed 3 months ago, and I'm also now the caregiver for my dad - who suffers a traumatic brain injury, and lives with my family now. I'm really stressed about all of this weight. I don't want to spend every day in sweats or leggings... lol. HELP!

CA

Carriemomof521 Jan 2017

I was put on it for 2 reasons, like quite a lot of you, for pain relief & depression. I was first part on it a few years ago 60mg. I started gaining weight like crazy BECAUSE all of a sudden I was ALWAYS hungry! Now, I am overweight to begin with, 5'2 was 225lbs. My heaviest was 245 & being THAT big also adds to the depression which adds to eating then weight gain then more back pain IT'S AN ENDLESS CYCLE! So, they decreased my dose to 30mg. I have been sooo depressed for the last year that finally in November 2016, I HAD to speak up for fear of how much I was giving up on my life EVEN though I'm a mother of 5 & grandmother of 4.A lot of VERY important people would be so upset if I weren't around anymore, so they increased my dose back up to 60mg. Now, of course I just got side tracked&off course of what I was originally saying.

I was overweight to begin with when I started taking it, BUT I rarely eat & when I do it's not very much at all. At taco bell I get full off of 1 hard taco. I can't even eat a whole burrito if I ever get one&when we go out to dinner, I usually just take a few bites off my husband's plate&I'm stuffed! Unfortunately though, I drink UP to 6- 8 cans of Coke a day!!! Yes, I do know how awful that is & now weaning myself down & starting to drink water! O.k. point is this time around I'm losing weight I'm now down to 194lbs, have a lot of energy, & my gosh I just feel so much better & obviously we all react differently to medications but I don't understand why one time it makes me hungry &gain& then another time it's the opposite. Good luck though to all of you!

IG

Igonz57 Nov 2017

Hi..I am currently on Cymbalta for chronic back pain and have gained about 10 lbs..I was wondering what new medication is your wife taking that replaced Cymbalta?

I have been taking cymbalta for over 1 year. It was worked wonderfully for me but I had an immediate 30 lb weight gain. Can not get it off for anything. Pain vs weight. I will take little to no pain!

KI

Kittenliz28 May 2013

I lost weight on it. But I couldn't sleep and still had fibro pain. Kittenliz

NO

Noelle7823 Nov 2013

I've lost over 10 lbs since starting Cymbalta a little over a month ago. I find that my appetite is much lower and I don't have cravings for sweets like I used to. I take it for chronic pain and my Dr. thinks I have GAD(generalized anxiety). For me I think the stress and anxiety from pain were keeping me from losing weight before. I have been about 30 lbs overweight since the birth of my 3 year old. So I'm very happy with it so far.

Votes:+2

ER

erikacole24 Sep 2015

Did you continue to lose weight? Are you still on it? How is it helping with pain?

LY

lynnemargaret13 Jan 2016

All I can say is WAIT... Cymbalta is altering your brain the loner you are on it... that is the truth, the weight gain is a reality maybe not until you have taken this for a few years but the weight gain is a definite. When you finally decide to get off Cymbalta come back here and tell us how wonderful Cymbalta is then... The Worst is yet to come the longer you are on it the Worse it will be for with drawals

SU

sugarpie6828 Jun 2017

I'm responding to the last person that commented, I was on Cymbalta for a few years and It's Not Horrible, It really helped me then I felt like I didn't need it anymore yand I weaned off of It twice actually:)) I've tried some that made me psycho, Crying my eyes out if I need it again I'll be asking for Cymbalta..

I've lost weight taking Cymbalta,(75 pounds).Have taken only 30mg daily for 6 years but recently noticed a change in my appetite and mood so I've been increased to 60mg daily . Hoping I will lose 50 more pounds. Not sure if directly due to cymbalta but my appetite those 6 years definitely decreased and I don't want it back !

HE

heywait4me7 Dec 2014

I have been on Cymbalta for 4 months and have gained 20 lbs. It doesn't seem to matter how healthy I eat or how much exercise I get, the weight keeps packing on... and I have never had an issue with weight. I feel like a cow.

HE

heywait4me7 Dec 2014

Also, the 20 lb weight gain was very quick. I am working on getting off of Cymbalta, but from what I understand stopping the drug is a whole nightmare just in itself. I would advise that you do alot of research before you start on Cymbalta.

VA

Valzurpal2216 Jan 2015

No it's not a nightmare... I was on cymbalta for about the same amount of time 4 months & I just stopped taking it one day because of the weight gain. I was on 90mg & all I got was mild brain zaps but nothing painful or annoying. You just feel a little buzzed I guess... the zaps went away within a month. I was also taking Welbutrin so I'm not sure if that helped but it was not a nightmare at all!

SP

Spendor10 Jul 2015

It is a truly depressing enigma! You can practically eat nothing and even with a bit of excersise.. And for no apparent reason, the next day you are up 2 pounds! I'd is frightening, to say the least. My waist seems to feel the same on my jeans, but the scale goes up!! Then a few days later, it might go down! Yet the drug keeps me out of seriously depressed moods. It almost mandates treadmill use at least 3 times a week; which so far is beyond my willpower . Sad but true...

VA

Valzurpal2210 Jul 2015

Cymbalta sucks! All it did was make me hungry & sleepy along with all the other antidepressants I've taken in the past. The only one that worked for me is wellbutrin which is energizing. I just recently started taking 2mg abilify also to boost the wellbutrin since I've been on it for 3 yrs now it needed a boost. All I can say is it works great although I've only been on it for 2 months so it could just be the honeymoon phase but that usually only last about 2 wks & 2 months later it's still working great. I still do get a little extra hungry but I excersise about 5 x a week & I've lost 5 pounds already so I'm more then sure with excercise & diet abilify can work great for others also. If you need energy this combo is great!

VA

Valzurpal2210 Jul 2015

Cymbalta sucks! All it did was make me hungry & sleepy along with all the other antidepressants I've taken in the past. The only one that worked for me is wellbutrin which is energizing. I just recently started taking 2mg abilify also to boost the wellbutrin since I've been on it for 3 yrs now it needed a boost. All I can say is it works great although I've only been on it for 2 months so it could just be the honeymoon phase but that usually only last about 2 wks & 2 months later it's still working great. I still do get a little extra hungry but I excersise about 5 x a week & I've lost 5 pounds already so I'm more then sure with excercise & diet abilify can work great for others also. If you need energy this combo is great!

ME

merrygoround26 Jul 2015

I totally agree with you I was a size 6 for years then Cymbalta has taken me to a size 10-12 I feel like a cow too. I never lost weight on it , plus it was complete HELL getting off this drug. There are no warnings and Doctors give it out like M&M candy, it is horrible. The road to recovery, I finally am starting to feel like my old self again, a fat version though...

I was on 20mg Cymbalta for five years and finally got off over two weeks ago. I gained fat around my waist despite exercising 5x plus a week and heavy weight lifting. Now the pounds are visibly coming off. I have not measured the amount of weight loss but it's the sort of thing where you know your body and can see the results. I will echo the comments on getting off the drug - one of the most challenging things I've done and something I actually failed two years ago before finally concurring over a three month period this autumn.

SU

SueHuff26 Jan 2015

When I started out on 30mg per day, I actually lost weight, had no appetite. However when my doctor increased to 60mg per day it really increased my appetite big time! Since I was given this to help control pain mainly, which it has NOT helped I am going to have her wean me off of them. Good to you!

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